Change in Blog's Description

I have recently changed the description of this blog.  My thoughts being that since the city adopted a more chicken-friendly pet code which keeps many of us from being underground this blog has moved from advocating the change in the pet code to more of a support for those of us who either have or would like to have pet chickens.

Hopefully the resources posted on the right, along with insights I may have learned over the past few years will be helpful to those who visit.  I am grateful for the information I received from many websites as I undertook this project. 

In doing so, I have been very happy with chickens as pets.  The social dynamic that a flock has is very interesting.  They are rewarding pets each with different personalities.

 

 

 

Olga is a White Crested Polish and one of my oldest hens.  Because of her breed she is a little more on the skittish side.  Also, since I didn't raise her from a chick she has other experiences in her life prior to coming to my house that may make her that way.  She did once get snatched by a neighbor's dog...when the dog came into our back yard.  She recovered and seems to talk more than she did before the incident.

Olga

Rosie (and Red) are Rhode Island Red hens and Rosie is also one of my oldest hens.  With the lack of any roosters she has taken on the role of protector.  She is an awesome 'mother hen' to the rest of the flock.  She is not a genetic mother to any of the other hens but she treats them very well.  When I bring out treats she will often take a treat, drop it, cluck, pick it up, drop it, cluck, pick it up...until the others come and then she lets them eat first.  When she feels everyone has had a fair chance, only then will she eat.

 

Rosie and Red

Plays with chickens in Perry-Standard Examiner

The Standard Examiner posted a great story yesterday of a family in Perry and their chickens.  Follow link below:

Plays with chickens

New Nest Boxes

Well, as promised, I hijacked a friend and together we built new nest boxes for the ladies.  I think I made them a little too big.  The chickens don't seem to mind but I don't look how the inside of the hen house looks now.  I just have them propped up in place but need to come up with a more permanent way of having them in place.

Gluing and Stapling the walls in place

Adding some blocking to keep wood chips in place

Finished product

Henriette was the first to try out and christen the box

Sam quickly took her place.

By the way, the studly friend who helped me build these is the same one who created my wonderful Brigham City Chickens sign that you see at the top of the page!  THANKS HOWIE.

Nesting Boxes

One of the advantages of having chickens is that they give you eggs.  In making the hens feel more comfortable and making it more convenient to collect the eggs people make nesting boxes in which the hens lay.  There are many ideas for nesting boxes, from using old buckets or milk crates to building external additions to the hen house with shingled top and hinged access.

When I built our current hen house, I purchased a cheap 2 shelf book shelf and used it as the nest.  They say hens need about 12 inch square and 18 inch deep.  This was a little bigger but they have been happy enough with it.   It has had some problems that I wasn't happy with and with the use (and abuse) over the past couple years, I decided it was time to upgrade.

I have wanted one built on the outside with the hinged lid and the easy-access nests and had my self convinced to proceed in that direction.  There are pros and cons to having boxes on the outside.  Building them seems more complicated, keeping weather out becomes an issue.  I'm not a great builder and rely on the skills of a long time friend who has had a career in house construction.  On the Pro side, you have ease of access and added room inside the hen house. 


I have spent some time looking at what other people had done and I think I have found the best of both worlds.  That would be nest boxes that reside internally, with only an access hatch on the outside!  In my searching, I found a blog where someone had done just that.  I stumbled on foxhavenjournal's blog which had nice pictures and details about what they did.

So now I have an idea in mind, I need to come up with dimensions and a rough plan.  My 6 hens have had a hard time sharing 2 boxes, I think I'll expand to 3.  With a rough plan and a promise of exchanging some IT work with my contractor friend, I can see us getting some work done!

Brooding

Its Easter time and many people end up with chicks.  This is sometimes unfortunate as the unwitting family ends up with a pet that they are not prepared to deal with.  Brooding is the process of raising a chick from just being hatched to one that can survive the elements on its own.  

Chicks in a brooder with heat lamp, food and water

I've only done this once, so I am not an expert.  That being said, by following some simple directions, raising chicks at home can be a fun experience for adults and children.  I will outline some advantages and disadvantages and then refer you to resources that will be able to give you proper instructions and things to watch out for in the process.

Advantages:

• You pick out the chick and are involved in the process.  Different breeds have different characteristics; from egg laying ability to cold hardiness to personality or temperament.
• The chick is dependent on you for its safety and health.  The first month of its life is critical. (This could also be seen as a disadvantage).
• The chick gets to know you and recognize your voice and learn its name.  Granted, this gets harder if you are purchasing a flock.  Our one chick that was raised by us knows its name when we call it and comes to her name.  
• Brooding (raising chicks from hatchling) gives you a deep-dive course in poultry.  You will develop an understanding of their needs and this will help you as they grow up.
• They are so darn cute

Disadvantages:

• A little knowledge is necessary before getting started.
• Some equipment is necessary for chicks (heat lamp, special feed, brooder that can grow if you get a bunch of chicks etc.)
• A little more time and effort intensive.
• Mixing them in an existing flock can be problematic as a new pecking order is established.  Chicks will need to be safe and it may not be a pleasant experience for your family if you don't know what to expect.  New chicks or hens are not immediately accepted as members of the flock.  Yes, blood can be shed.  
• There's a good chance some chicks will die.  Some don't get water or get walked on by the others or some don't get the right amount of heat.  You can regulate these to minimize your loss, but some just don't make it.

OK, on to the resources.  Utah State Extension has a great list of guide sheets for beginning your experience with raising backyard poultry.  Go to Poultry Fact Sheets for a list of guides that can help with a wide variety of subjects.  Brooding Fact sheet speaks specifically about raising chicks from scratch.  There are many reliable resources on the internet.  Take a look at the list to the right of this page or google "brooding chickens" for a list of resources

Brigham City Tour de Coops??

Ok people, it's time for some pre-preparation...I doubt that is even a word but here's what has been rolling around in my head (and the head of my wife). 

We have attended Salt Lake's Tour de Coops the past couple years (Salt Lake will do their 2012 tour on June 23rd and June 30th.  Go to http://wasatchgardens.org/calendar for more information). We think it would be great if the chicken enthusiasts of Brigham City, join together next year and do our own Tour de Coops.  I think we should have 6-10 of us willing to share our yards on one particular day during mid to late June.  This will give us all time to get the yards in shape and coops cleaned out.  This will be an opportunity to share our interest, educate our friends and neighbors and promote the benefits to raising chickens in Brigham City.

In order to do this, we need more people to read this blog or contact me so I will know if there is interest in this event.  Spread the word, evangelize, proselytize, advertize and hopefully by 2013 we'll have a fun successful event!

Below are some pictures I took from last years Tour de Coops in Salt Lake City to get you excited:

Coop/Feed Giveaway

Click this link to enter...Good Luck!

 Looks like a gorgeous hen-house!